Sherpa Tensing
Forbes English · a route up the tenses
Route map

Thirteen camps, two faces

The ascent, in active voice, ordered by how often you'll actually reach for each tense. The descent, in passive voice, the same thirteen camps in reverse. Every marker starts dim — click one to light it up and see what it is. The two that are already open climb straight through in full colour.

The ascent

active voice · base camp to summit
Present continuous Present simple Past simple Present perfect Going to Past continuous Future simple Present perfect continuous Future continuous Past perfect Past perfect continuous Future perfect Future perfect continuous

The descent

passive voice · summit to ground
Future perfect continuous passive Future perfect passive Past perfect continuous passive Past perfect passive Future continuous passive Present perfect continuous passive Future simple passive Past continuous passive Going to passive Present perfect passive Past simple passive Present simple passive Present continuous passive
tap to reveal revealed / open lesson circle = active voice, diamond = passive voice

Foundation camps

reach for these daily
  1. 1.Present continuous
  2. 2.Present simple
  3. 3.Past simple
  4. 4.Present perfect
  5. 5.Going to

The ridge

common, but need more care
  1. 6.Past continuous
  2. 7.Future simple
  3. 8.Present perfect continuous
  4. 9.Future continuous

Summit push

rare, mostly written English
  1. 10.Past perfect
  2. 11.Past perfect continuous
  3. 12.Future perfect
  4. 13.Future perfect continuous